Degree of C(4) Photosynthesis in C(4) and C(3)-C(4)Flaveria Species and Their Hybrids : I. CO(2) Assimilation and Metabolism and Activities of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase and NADP-Malic Enzyme.

The degree of C(4) photosynthesis was assessed in four hybrids among C(4), C(4)-like, and C(3)-C(4) species in the genus Flaveria using (14)C labeling, CO(2) exchange, (13)C discrimination, and C(4) enzyme activities. The hybrids incorporated from 57 to 88% of the (14)C assimilated in a 10-s exposure into C(4) acids compared with 26% for the C(3)-C(4) species Flaveria linearis, 91% for the C(4) species Flaveria trinervia, and 87% for the C(4)-like Flaveria brownii. Those plants with high percentages of (14)C initially fixed into C(4) acids also metabolized the C(4) acids quickly, and the percentage of (14)C in 3-phosphoglyceric acid plus sugar phosphates increased for at least a 30-s exposure to (12)CO(2). This indicated a high degree of coordination between the carbon accumulation and reduction phases of the C(4) and C(3) cycles. Synthesis and metabolism of C(4) acids by the species and their hybrids were highly and linearly correlated with discrimination against (13)C. The relationship of (13)C discrimination or (14)C metabolism to O(2) inhibition of photosynthesis was curvilinear, changing more rapidly at C(4)-like values of (14)C metabolism and (13)C discrimination. Incorporation of initial (14)C into C(4) acids showed a biphasic increase with increased activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic enzyme (steep at low activities), but turnover of C(4) acids was linearly related to NADP-malic enzyme activity. Several other traits were closely related to the in vitro activity of NADP-malic enzyme but not phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The data indicate that the hybrids have variable degrees of C(4) photosynthesis but that the carbon accumulation and reduction portions of the C(4) and C(3) cycles are well coordinated.